AUS W vs NZ W: New Zealand's ODI World Cup Qualification Uncertain After Loss to Australia

With less than a year to go before the Women's ODI World Cup 2025, the battle for automatic qualification is heating up. India, being the host has already qualified; nine other teams are left to fight for the remaining places. Australia under captain Alyssa Healy took the lead in the ICC Women's Championship 2022-25 with their 2-0 series win over New Zealand in the recently ended three-match series.

Australia has managed 39 points from 24 games. India currently in third place. Their utmost total can reach to only 37 if they have an all-win remaining series with two ODIs against West Indies and three ODIs with Ireland. New Zealand currently stands in sixth place; but they are the worst position with all their 24 matches already over. It has no chance left now to regain it.

The top six teams will qualify directly for the 2025 ODI World Cup. The bottom four teams in the Women's Championship will contest the remaining two qualification places, while two more teams from the ODI rankings will also compete. Bangladesh are seventh and have three matches left; they are still mathematically in with a realistic chance of overtaking New Zealand. The West Indies in ninth also have an outside chance of breaking into the top six.

New Zealand's 15th Consecutive Defeat to Australia in Women’s ODIs

New Zealand on December 23 suffered their 15th consecutive defeat to Australia in Women's ODIs with their last win over the Trans-Tasman rivals coming back in February 2017. The third and final ODI was at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, where the White Ferns lost by 75 runs.

Although Amelia Kerr did very well with four wickets, Australia managed to post a competitive total of 290 in 49 overs. Phoebe Litchfield scored 50 runs while Ash Gardner topped the score with 74. Rosemary Mair and Sophie Devine also supported the bowling with three and two wickets, respectively.

In response, Annabel Sutherland, who had scored back-to-back ODI centuries herself, and Alana King each claimed three wickets as Australia bowled New Zealand out for 215 in 43.3 overs.